Originally Posted by
Swanhunter
With status, there are four benefits to CE
* The free seat
* Food
* Extra miles and TP's
* D fares are often the cheapest flexible tickets on a route
Personally the only one of those that might make me buy up are the miles and TP's. I value legroom more than width so a exit row is far more desirable. Food - well I've wittered on enough about Plane Food - and on leisure travel I don't need flexibility.
However if you are deficient on the status front I can see the extras making a difference - lounge, priority check in especially.
Ditto. Moreover, as GCH, I usually manage to nab a seat in the front left row of ET so the extra space is not a huge issue. Even without that, however, that would not be enough to make me buy CE unless the difference was really marginal. I rarely fly to band 4 destinations but perhaps I might, just might, consider CE even if TPs are not essential. Then again, the price differential on band 4s is usually higher so that would push me back towards ET.
I must say that 90% of my flights are self-financed so that does change the perspective somewhat compared to someone whose flights are paid by someone else.